Tyndale Open Study Notes1 Samuel 14

Jonathan again fought in his father's battles (see also 1 Samuel 13:2–4; 31).

Saul's actions in this chapter further support his removal as king (1 Samuel 13:8–14; see also 15). Saul was estranged from both Samuel and his brave son Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14 foreshadows Jonathan's important role in the shift from Saul's rule to David's.

• bearing his armor: See study note on 1 Samuel 16:21.

• Jonathan did not tell his father because he knew Saul would not approve the dangerous plan. He also knew that Saul did not want anyone, not even his own son, to take honor away from him.

staying under: Saul does nothing while Jonathan takes action (see also 1 Samuel 22:6).

• Ahijah the priest served as an adviser to Saul. He could seek God’s guidance for Saul by using the ephod (a sacred garment used to ask God for direction, 1 Samuel 14:18–19; see also 1 Samuel 2:18 and study note on 1 Samuel 2:18; 1 Samuel 23:9–10).

• son of Eli: Saul, the rejected king (1 Samuel 13:13–14), kept a priest from the rejected priesthood with him (1 Samuel 2:27–36).

• Ichabod: See 1 Samuel 4:21.

The Philistines controlled this area (1 Samuel 13:23), so Jonathan and his armor bearer had to be careful.

• uncircumcised men: A word used to show strong dislike or disrespect for Israel’s enemies (see also 1 Samuel 17:36; 31:4).

• Perhaps: Jonathan had no promise of survival, but he believed God could give them victory against the odds. Victory depended on God; Jonathan offered himself as a tool for God to use.

• whether by many or by few: Jonathan understood what Gideon had learned long ago (see Judges 7:2–8).

• Hebrews: Refer to study note on 1 Samuel 13:3.

• out of the holes in which they were hiding: See 1 Samuel 13:6.

• terror struck: This story is similar to Gideon's, showing Jonathan as a judge-like figure (see Judges 7:19–22). God had not officially chosen or specially empowered Jonathan as a leader, but God used him to save his people.

• raiding parties: See the study note on 1 Samuel 13:17–18.

Bring … Israelites: The Greek text of the Septuagint instead reads "Bring the ephod." The ark stayed at Kiriath-jearim for twenty years (1 Samuel 7:2). Unlike the ephod, it was never used to predict the future (see study note on 1 Samuel 2:18).

Earlier, many Israelites hid because they were afraid (1 Samuel 13:6–7). Some might have joined the Philistine army. The idea that they revolted when they had the chance suggests they might have been prisoners of war, forced to serve the Philistines.

• God saved Israel, not Saul. Jonathan acted willingly as the Lord worked through him.

• Beth-aven was directly west of Michmash (see 1 Samuel 13:5). The Israelites made the Philistines retreat all the way to Aijalon that day (see 1 Samuel 14:31).

• By making them swear an oath, Saul forced his tired, hungry men to abstain from food. This oath likely aimed to manipulate God for a good outcome, like the pagans might do (see notes on Exodus 23:26; 25:22; 32:4).

• Saul's use of my enemies instead of "our enemies" shows his self-centered pride.

brought trouble: Joshua used this word when speaking to Achan (Joshua 7:25), and Jephthah used it with his innocent daughter (Judges 11:35). Saul's foolish promise limited Israel's victory (1 Samuel 14:30) and endangered his son's life (see also Joshua 6:18; 1 Chronicles 2:7).

Aijalon: If the Philistines ran away through Beth-horon, the Israelites chased them for about 32 kilometers (nearly 20 miles).

The men were very hungry, so they ate meat without draining the blood. This act broke God's law (see Leviticus 17:10–14) and was a sin against the Lord. To stop more sin, Saul used a large rock as a field altar to properly drain the animals' blood. This incident happened because of Saul's foolish oath.

the first time he had built an altar: This is the only altar mentioned. David later built another altar, which became the site of God's temple (2 Samuel 24:18–25).

God did not answer: Neither the "no" nor the "yes" answer from the Urim and Thummim appeared.

Priests cast sacred lots by using the Urim and Thummim to learn what God wanted them to do (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8). David also used them to seek God's guidance (1 Samuel 23:2; 30:8; 2 Samuel 2:1). The Urim and Thummim were two small objects, possibly flat stones, sticks, or arrows, used like dice. They would give a positive, neutral, or negative answer.

The people, aware of God’s blessing on the real hero of the day, were wiser than their king.

Unlike the foolishness mentioned in 1 Samuel 14:1–46, these verses highlight Saul's military victories. Each king's reign in 1 Samuel—2 Kings ends with a similar summary of achievements.

• assumed (literally took): Samuel often used this verb to describe a king's actions: “He will take … take … take” (1 Samuel 8:10–18).

• the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites … Zobah: David faced these enemies during his reign and expanded Israel’s territory (see 2 Samuel 8:1–14).

defeated the Amalekites: See 1 Samuel 15:1–35. The Amalekites were a nomadic group (people who move from place to place rather than living in one town) in the south. They often attacked Israel by raiding villages and taking goods (see Exodus 17:8–16; Numbers 14:45; Judges 3:13; 6:3, 33; 7:12; 10:12).

This information about Saul’s family, placed here instead of at the end of his reign, suggests his reign was nearly over and none of his sons would succeed him.

• sons of Saul were: Saul had another son named Abinadab (1 Samuel 31:2).

• Ishvi: This is another name for Ish-bosheth (which means “man of shame”). He was also called Esh-baal (“man of Baal”). He briefly ruled as a rival king over the northern tribes during David’s early years (2 Samuel 2:8–11).

Ahinoam is only mentioned in Saul's story here. In 1 Samuel 25:43, David marries a woman named Ahinoam. These might be the same person, but it is unclear (see 2 Samuel 12:8).

• Saul easily defeated the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:11), but he struggled against the Philistines. The Philistines had a strong army and controlled iron and bronze (1 Samuel 13:19–22).

• Saul would enlist him: Samuel had warned earlier that the king would take people and possessions (1 Samuel 8:11).